1998 SplitFire Pro Circuit KX125 Build

Yes, I realise this seems crazy, reviving a build thread this old, but it is a project I've been collecting parts for for over 10 years. I've made some progress over the past few months so thought I'd share and keep it up to date. One day this bike WILL be built and be proudly on display in my workshop! 

The good thing about taking so long building a bike is you don't need to cut any corners, and just buy the correct parts as-and-when they pop up.

Period correct PC Titanium footpegs, PC brake snake, PC Powervalve covers, PC throttle wheel, and one part I thought i'd never find - an original PC 1998 team-issue waterpump guard.

Period Renthal Twinwall 997 handlebars, NOS 51t sprocket and NOS 13t Ultralite front.

NOS Braking Rear 230mm disc kit with KXR97 grey bracket.

NOS 260mm Braking front disc too (in the box!)

In 98, Factory Kawasaki and Team PC both used parts made by Gary Emig (Jeff's Dad) under the brand Emig Racing.

Emig Racing billet axle blocks and a billet clutch perch (that looks stock at a glance). It used the stock level/adjuster/rubber but had a nylon sleeve to help in a crash and was all machined from billet. I'm not sure if they were sold to the public back then but they're a really cool 'up-close' detail. I have the 1-1/8" one piece Pro Circuit bar clamop somewhere too that I think was made by Gary.

Emig Racing billet triple clamps.

I'm most likely going to run with the technically correct shorty that was used on the '1E' Vegas Shootout bike that I'm replicating, but I got lucky to get ahold of this race-used silencer off Carmichael's 98 MXdN bike from Foxhill! It's a really cool piece of history so I may just have to park it on the wall on display. It's a larger diameter pipe, and longer than stock to help deal with the FIM noise regs. It still has the pink marking from tech inspection with RC's #23 marked into it.

Up there with one of the hardest parts I've had to source. Green/black/clear braided hose made by Fastline in America. The company was shut down years ago and there's certainly not many of these left on the planet!

Pro Circuit 1-1/8" Bar clamp to fit the Emig clamps, PC grey carb canister, NOS PC ignition cover, PC pull rods and PC billet throttle tube.

Factory KHI steel gear lever, and the original Berg carbon lug guard (think already posted in this thread)

These may not look as exciting, but some of these took years to find. I've had saved searches online and always had a look out for these bits. All NOS original OEM parts (not the superseded versions that are always slightly different. Rear brake pedal, chain guide, rear brake hose, rad louvres, right side frame guard, case saver, throttle cap and Nichiwa blue plug cap etc... 

...also NOS CR125 front master cylinder and CR chain roller that were used on the team bikes.

When Carmichael’s bike rolled into the 1998 Vegas Supercross, it was fitted with a hand-made cone Pro Circuit pipe. Cone pipes were commonly made back then for the team to quickly test different specs etc.

A couple of years back I got in touch with the man who made the original cone pipes for PC (and sometimes still does!). I told him about my long-term project and the bike I’m building, and he was keen to help.

They pulled Carmichael’s ‘98 SX bike out of the showroom and my new cone pipe was built onto it - built to the exact specs of the original - brazed welds and all.

Thank you, Hoppo , it’s a work of art!

Some photos Hoppo sent me of it under construction on RC’s bike.

I got hold of this NOS Bridgestone M77 front tyre years ago and been searching since for the matching M78 100/90-19 rear. Thanks to Charles Raley who helped me locate one in Japan, and his friend, Yoshi who helped ship it over from Japan to me.

Pic showing the NOS M401/M402 for my 03 PC build also coming soon!